Ornithology edition-UPDATE

The snow has hit and is falling fast. Friend and colleague Donna took this shot of a hawk sheltering against the snow just outside her window. Just amazing!

Red-tailed hawk takes refuge from the snow storm in a pine tree.

This morning:

With a snow storm on the way, the local bird population seemed more active and visible than usual. Dozens of dark eyed Juncos came speed-grazing through the yard, from east to west, almost as if they were stocking up. Meanwhile, eastern bluebirds, wrens and crows were flitting through the bare winter branches.

Two of a flock of dozens of birds peck their way through the winter landscape.Wrens fluff their feathers against arctic air.Male and female bluebirds -- hard to spot amid the gray tangle of branches.Goldfinch looks for remaining grass seeds.

A lone bufflehead cruises the pond that has been his winter home over the last few years.

Another winter birds scene, 1,700 miles west — this purple finch was enjoying a pomegranate on a cloudy December day in San Diego.